Description: Ortofon Introduces MC Winfeld CartridgeOrtofon MC WinfeldOrtofon has launched the MC Winfeld, a newly developed moving coil cartridge using state-of-the-art technology. This highly advanced design, which is the world’s most hi-tech analogue cartridge, may be seen as a tribute to Ortofon’s departing engineer Per Winfeld, who has for more than 30 years been a feature of the high-end culture as the head of development behind amazing cartridges such as the Ortofon MC 20, Concorde, Rohmann, Jubilee, Kontrapunkt, etc....

Ortofon’s 75-year-old engineer Per Windfeld falls into the category of true hi-fi visionaries.

Guess that takes care of the accuracy of the review...interestingly, a full-page ad featuring Ortofons in the same issue also spells it Windfeld...as does Henley Designs, who may have been expected to know. Who is this guy?

I too am thinking of buying a Winfeld, I've already got a XV-1S incoming; but I like top-end Ortofon MC's due to their fresh open mastertape-like sound, and my Rohmann is at the end of it's life, due to high milage.

Anyway; I've got an Aro (with a heavy c/w ordered) and a SuperLine; can't wait to hear what others think of loading, c/w etc with the Winfeld.

Originally posted by abbydog:According to the Stereophile review, its spelt Windfeld.

Fair enough, you're right. On the other hand, Mikey Fremer spells it "Winfeld" in a review of a Soundsmith cartridge in the April issue. As Adam's quote reveals, sometime you can find different spellings within the same press release, and Googling the man's name reveals both versions. Perhaps this is a common pattern in anglicized Swedish?

Originally posted by abbydog:According to the Stereophile review, its spelt Windfeld.

Fair enough, you're right. On the other hand, Mikey Fremer spells it "Winfeld" in a review of a Soundsmith cartridge in the April issue. As Adam's quote reveals, sometime you can find different spellings within the same press release, and Googling the man's name reveals both versions. Perhaps this is a common pattern in anglicized Swedish?

I think it may be danish not swedish. And not at all anglicized either.

I like Ortofon cartridges.I use a Rohmann and a 2M Black.I have (too) many other carts. including different Audio Technicas and Linn offerings.I would describe the Ortofon house sound as neutral. Others may excite you more, but the Ortofon is closer to the truth.I believe the 2M Black to be the best moving magnet cart ever, and considerably better than many moving coils.When my Rohman dies, I will probably buy a Winfield.

We have been comparing Winfeld to Kontrapunkt B (on which it is based) and XV-1S. System has been a Naimed LP12 into various incarnations of Superline/Supercap 282/552, passive 500/active 362'd 250s into DBLs - all good stuff. Yes, I did say DBLs, which only really got going when actively driven.

It's a good cartridge. Is it a great cartridge? Hmmm, difficult to say. There are some things it does very well indeed, but very often you just felt a bit cheated by it. Is it worth that much more than a 'B'? I don't think so, although I only heard it with the lower system, the 'B' had a cohesion and engaging factor which seemed to elude the Winfeld. That said, the Winfeld had gobs more resolution, a bit like the XV-1S without the fun.

I am a big fan of Ortofon too, I installed a Beta for a friend and it just got better and better over time, very nice.Abbydog - I am using LP12/ARO.Rockingdoc - you are the opposite to me, since I got into the Koetsus I have stuck to one stereo cartridge at a time, but I think that may change with the Superline.Frank - Setting aside XV-1S and DVs, what is your current all round LP12/ARO/Naim ref series favourite cartridge? Does anything actually exist that is up to CD-555 standard?

I can't help thinking that the Onyx cartridge is the main limitation now. The mid range distortion is revealed by the Superline. Reducing the loading reduces the mid range distortion but flattens and slows the music too much and maybe even distorts the bass.